nail OEE MITCHELL ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024 3 Not too often one can ride a train down Mitchell's main street but that was the case during the Mitchell BIA Street Party July 31, part of Mitchell's 150th Homecoming celebration. awpy BADER Homecoming hits all the right notes as Mitchell turns 150 Volunteers were "unsung heroes’, co-chair says DY BADER ng the closing ceremonies of 1989 Mitchell Homecoming, eering committee member Doug madeit known he'd chair the event in 2024. He lived up to his word, acting as -chair of the steering commit- nis time around as Mitchell ked 150 years as atown and 26 part of the amalgamated nicipality of West Perth. Less than 48 hours after the vhelmingly successful event cleaned up, Feltz said there o way he’d be involved in Mitchell’s next milestone {e’d be 86 years old, “and e 7 wheeling me in with the € oes he jo! ardless, pare | to Aug. 4 in and around Ket- Park -- was, based on overall dance, the variety of activi- ties planned and led by a diligent group of volunteers and, of course, the picture- ee atre- mendous succe: “As I said at the initial meeting, this is a legacy event,” Feltz said. “This happens very 2p yearend if you're lucky, you see three of them. One as a kid, another when you’re old enough to participate, and again when you're a senior that you either participate or just attend. It wasn’t perfect. If we had to do it again next year, we would tweak some stuff but, fortunately, we're not doing the 15st. From free swims at the Lions Lauaachecred bear picnics to sunset ra to beach volleyball to eras of feed and drink, the week-lo; event saw people of all ages come home and, well, party. F map was placed in downtown Mitchell during the opening night of July 31, asking people to place a pin where they came from, and eee from coast to coast and ss the U.S. were common, as wall as a few extreme Be ly 1,500 people wandered down- town enjoying a wide variety of children’s games and activities, as well as a chance to meet and min- gle, and that’s what people did. The Clinton Pipe & Drums Band paraded the steering committee and various dignitaries to the opening, whic w co-chair Feltz, Perth-Wellington MP John Nater and MPP Matthew Rae, Perth McKenzie all offering brief words of welcome. Adult and children’s sports con- tinued Aug. 1 with a six-team pick- leball tournament and a 10-team two-division youth 3-on-3 basket- ball: tournament p! layed under high sold out at 1,300 people by mid-af- ternoon. OnAug. 4,a15-team Texas horse- neously was pop’ ofthe pavilion. All day, eight teams participated on two diamonds in aco-ed 3-pitch tournament that led to the Jabe & The Backstab- bers cover band performance to cap things off that evening. “I compare it to a movie,” Feltz said. “You roll the credits and the gripper’s name nobody paysatten- tion to but, without that gripper, the movie would never happen. That's our volunteers and the committee that we have behind the scenes. Phil (O’Donnell)and I pi iret District high school vurt: “rain dantedea some of the fam- ily fun on Aug. 2, but volunteers just moved things indoors, which didn’t deter youngsters from at- tending. Roughly 500 went to the Bek Palace for the fun after- i the li- ‘Our come home,” he said. “Wehadpeo- ple from the east and west coasts, across the United States, andapin from Russia. So, you can literally say people from all over the world attended.” High school class reunions and sports team get-togethers popped up that the steering committee had no knowledge of, but that was great, said Feltz, calling Home- coming a perfect occasion to do so. A successful “Born in the 50s” social was held at the Mitchell Le- gion branch Aug. 3, and toursofthe former Mitchell public school -- now home to the Upper Thames Missionary Church —- saw anesti- wi braryafid Perth Care for Kids. The Optimist Club’s Youth Safety on Wheels event was moved indoors to the arena ice pad, and although attendance was down somewhat, organizers were still happy with the turnout. The river walk/run saw people from age nine to 74 participate, followed by another dozen or so relaxing with sunset yoga. A 16- team beach volleyball tournament began Aug. 2 and continued most of the following day ina make-shift court behind the arena, while house of 750 people enjoyed the Pub Night with craft beers in the pavilion before the scene shifted a mated 4 n two hours that : same -day, 10 times toaDJ night under tent. BBE es Dustin Smith, that erybody thanked us, but we just directed the movie.” Calling the volunteers “the un- sung heroes of this whole event,” Feltz said people just came out and got involved. He said he wish- es there were more of them, but when the crunch was on and vol- unteers were needed for various were also thanked profusely. “They're unpaid volunteers that have lives and families and other commitments that gave up their time for the last 18 months to try and get this through. ... I don’t think they got near enough Site or thank-yous for the work they id.” Feltz also gave high praise for West Perth’s community outreach co-ordinator, Lindsay Wagg, for her work behind the scenes look- ing after social media, as well as all the municipal parks staff for the yeoman’s service they did all weekend. it still beingcollect- more than what “Overall, I think people were happy with everything.” said Feltz, admitting afterwards it felt like he’d had 100 pounds lifted off his back once it was ave exceeded 1 The eae West Perth Fire Department breakfast saw 650 people fed Aug. 3, while anumber ofyoungsters sped down the north hill on Me ae Bors peas the Activity at Home- coming, but the run of five ac- tion-packed days started on July 31 withagolftournament attended by 100 duffers, a teddy bear picnic in the Lions and a downtown BIA Street Party that closed the main street and included a brief opening ceremony. Approximate- bythat ran quickly and efficiently. Acar and motorcycle show was a smashing success, as more than 225 vehicles crammed into Ket- erson Park for much of the day. The evening culminated with a performance by Bradley Hale and then The Hip Experience, which ed, it two or thr 7 igh to balance things financial- ly, but Feltz said the sponsorship mittee gave everyone a great head start long before any event took place, making it a successful celebration like others that pre- ceded it in Mitchell's illustrious history in 1950, 1974 and 1999, “It didn’t matter if they gave $150 or $10,000, all of it was greatly appreciated. It was a great fund- iser,” he said, ”and something Bat alot at peplawiltalways ve- ember.”